Brass and Wire Mesh Folding Fireplace Screen, French Work, circa 1970

The folding fireplace screen represents one of the more practically intelligent solutions in the long history of the pare-feu. Where a fixed panel must be chosen to match a specific hearth opening, a folding screen in two or more articulated sections can be contracted or extended to suit a range of proportions, making it a versatile piece for a house with several fireplaces or one whose hearth dimensions do not conform to standard measurements. This example in polished brass and wire mesh extends to 62.5 centimetres at its widest and rises to 50.5 centimetres — generous dimensions that would suit a principal reception room — while closing to a depth of 26.5 centimetres when the side leaves are folded.

Polished brass is the canonical material of the domestic fireplace screen in the French interior of the second half of the twentieth century. Its warm, golden tone harmonises with the orange and yellow of a burning fire in a way that silver, chrome, or painted metal cannot quite match, creating a dialogue between the reflective surface of the metal and the living light of the flames behind it. The surface of the brass frame, worked to a high polish, also catches and redistributes the light of the room itself, animating the corner of the fireplace with a warmth that persists even when the fire is not lit.

The wire mesh infill, stretched within the brass framework with care and precision, performs the essential protective function of the screen — intercepting sparks and embers before they reach the floor or furnishings — while contributing to the visual lightness of the whole. A taut, well-made grille is almost transparent in effect, allowing the fire to be seen clearly while the viewer remains conscious of the formal frame that surrounds it. The result is a piece that does its job entirely without calling attention to itself: the mark of good design.

In good condition with a warm brass finish. This screen would function equally well in a grand salon or a more intimate sitting room, its folding format giving it a practical advantage over fixed alternatives. Width extended: 62.5 cm. Height: 50.5 cm. Depth folded: 26.5 cm.